Artist Pamela Hunt Lee: Creating Art is Work

Artist Pamela Hunt Lee: Creating Art is Work

Creating Art is Work

An Artist Who Is Creating is Working.

Crystal Bay Boulders

48x48

With regularity I see Internet posts of lists of things you should never say to artists. They look something like this:

1.  Can you do a work of art for my event for free.  You will get great exposure.

2.  You charge that much?  It looks so easy. It couldn't have taken you much time.

3.  You're lucky.  You don't have to work, you just get to paint all day.

4.  One person to another:  You could do that.  Just copy it.

Balanced Boulder Again

48x36

The lists usually go on with 10 or so points.  All of the statements are basically the same and somewhat belittling to the artist.  Most of them overlook the fact that an artist is working.  It's a job, albeit a job we are driven to do, and one we love to do, but it's a job.  We read and hear all the time, do what you love to do.  Artists are following that advice.  

The Big Split

48x36

Currently Exhibited at Vista Gallery, Kings Beach, CA

As we move into art festival, art show time of year, let's take a look at those points listed above:

1.  Artists are asked over and over to donate their work.  While we all believe in certain fund raising efforts, the requests can be overwhelming. The artist must run their business (it is a business) with thought and precision just like any other business.  I encourage artists to set their gifting at the beginning of the year, selecting charities they believe in, limiting their gifting which makes it less overwhelming. 

Caught Rock From The Back Side

48x48

Currently Exhibited at Village Interiors, Incline Village, NV

2.  Creating art is never easy.  Thought, planning, education, time, and dedication all go into creating.  Hours are spent thinking about, sketching, and then creating a particular work of art.  It's not just the time making the actual work, in my case a painting, there is loads of time spent before I even pick up the brush.  

Split Above and Below

16x20

Currently Exhibited at Village Interiors, Incline Village, NV

3.  It's work.  It's a job.  When an artist is disciplined and productive it may appear all they do all day is create.  Let me tell you, much of that creative time is spent working with your galleries, working on sales, working at the desk and on the computer.  I recently heard that Roy Lichtenstein spent one day a week painting and the remainder of the week selling.

Sunrise

20x24

Currently Exhibited at Village Interiors, Incline Village, NV

4.  Oh my....you could copy that?  Hardly.  It has taken every single bit of work, of creativity, to get to where an artist is at any particular moment.  If it weren't for all the work that has come before, I would not be able to paint what I do today.  The selection of the palette, the composition, the nuances of the brush strokes, are all individual.  

We artists work diligently, hour after hour, to accomplish what we do.  As you visit galleries, art fairs and shows, remember these points and think about what you say to and in front of the artist.  Creating is our job.  It's work.  

To contact me click HERE

To visit my web site click HERE

Artist's Statement

If you are an Artist,

You are frequently asked for an Artist's Statement.

Not only can you be asked for a statement about your work in general, but for a statement about a group of work or an individual work.  The other day I was asked to describe my work in one word.  I chose BOLD.  That seems to sum up my composition. 

The Big Split

48x36

3500.

Currently Exhibited at Vista Gallery in Kings Beach, CA

I might have chosen DRAMATIC.

Golden Boulders

48x60

6000.

Currently Exhibited at Village Interiors, Incline Village, NV

I thought about STYLIZED.  And CONTEMPORARY entered my mind.

Serenity

16x20

650.

Currently Exhibited at Vista Gallery, Kings Beach, CA

Or even COLORFUL.

Three Birds

36x36

3500.

But in the end I settled on BOLD, as a one word description. Taking it a little further my description becomes:  

Bold, colorful, representational paintings presented with contemporary stylization.  

The process of distilling a description of your work into one word helps with the process of creating a succinct, understandable description.  Give it a try.

To contact me click HERE

To visit my web site click HERE

See Where You Are.

That's The Title Of My Book.

If you have seen or read my book you know the title refers to observation and my belief that we should all take a good look at our surroundings to actually see what is there.  Many years ago I received the gift of a child's crayon drawing with the words, "Be Where You Are" written in primitive, child-like block letters, across the bottom.  I was captivated by sentiment, so this framed drawing hung in my home for many years.  I attempted to live the sentiment and found it inched its way into my art theory and practice, with a small twist.  No only, Be Where You Are, but SEE Where You Are.

Caught Again

48x36

Acrylic on Canvas

We look at things every day, from the moment we get up in the morning until we go to sleep at night.  We look at everything around us, but do we actually see these things?

Back Side of Caught Rock

48x48

Acrylic on Canvas

Observation is not a passive activity.  You must engage to be aware of your surroundings.   It is frequently helpful to carry a notebook or sketchbook to record what you see, to note the details.  If you prefer an additional mental challenge you might engage and challenge yourself to remember.

Three Birds

48x48

Acrylic on Canvas

What should you record?  How about the variety of color, as well as lights and darks, the values,  in the clouds.  And pay attention to the height and width of those clouds as well as the shapes. Are they billowy and puffy, flat and thin, wispy, towering?  How do they compare in size to the earth below?  Do they cast shadows on themselves and the earth below,  and what about the details of that shadow?  Get it?  Just apply this observing to everything around you.

Big Flowered Euphorbia

48x30

Acrylic on Canvas

All the while, be where you are and engage so that you can see where you are.

To Order My Book or Contact Me, Click HERE

To Visit My Web Site, Click HERE

Art Commission Installed.

Another Commissioned Painting

Done, Delivered, Installed!

It was inspired by small, lush palms that grow in the yard of the new owners' home and it's titled:  Palm Paradise.  

The palette for this triptych, the blues and greens primarily, were selected to make a visual statement, to allow the painting to move forward off the wall.

Typical of my style, the subject is stylized and the composition is bold.

The new owners, who now count eleven of my paintings in their collection,  exclaimed:  WE LOVE IT!  And they have commissioned another.  An even dozen sounds good to me!

To contact me click HERE

To visit my web site click HERE

Fund Raising for Kids.

Fund Raising By Kids For Kids.

With Art.

What a great idea!  This is what came across my computer yesterday.  The idea of one child creating a work of art which will be sold, with the proceeds from the sale being used to purchase a toy for a needy child.

And it was a child that came up with this idea.  Lyla painted this lovely rainbow then asked her mom to put it up on eBay to see if it would sell.  When her mother queried what would Lyla do with the money, Lyla answered she would buy toys for children that don't have them.  

So then the mom posted  the painting and sentiment on her Facebook page which I saw and suggested friends start bidding on the painting right there on Facebook.  And they have been bidding.  Last I checked the high bid was $20.

It's quite a lovely little painting.  The depth this young artist created with layers of clear, washed pigment is intriguing.

It will be beautiful in a frame, under glass, giving a spot of color and whimsy to any room.   And all of the funds paid will go directly to a toy for a child who needs one.  Maybe the 'toy' could include the genre of art supplies for a child that doesn't have them.

This is a win win deal.  The funds raised will provide something for a child that doesn't have and at the same time paying money for the painting will validate the creative efforts of this little artist, Lyla. 

Because of privacy issues, I am not giving out the Facebook page, so if you would like to bid on this painting, leave me a message and I will bid for you.  The bidding closes, tomorrow, Wednesday, May 1 at 10:00 PM.

To contact me click HERE

To visit my web site click HERE

Long Beach Museum of Art

Art Auction 15

Play On Words

8x26

Acrylic on Canvas

The exhibition is up and running.  This is the Long Beach Museum of Art's  biennial, four week exhibition and auction.  The exhibition opened last week on April 18 and will continue until May 18. This is one of the best auctions of contemporary art on the West Coast with over 100 artists participating after being invited and juried into the event.  Yes, I am honored to be a participant and the painting shown here,  titled:  A Play On Words,  is my entry.

Play On Words

During the four week exhibition it is possible to make bids on the paintings.  The culmination of the exhibition takes place May 19 from 4:00 - 9:00 pm with a live and silent auction of all the paintings.  While perusing and bidding on the art the guests will be treated to tapas dining and a hosted bar on the expansive lawn overlooking the Pacific Ocean. 

Play On Words

Proceeds from the Auction support the Museum's mission to collect and care for their permanent art collection, present changing exhibitions,  and provide educational programming.

Play On Words

Sounds terrific!  Remember, if you cannot get to the event on May 19, you can visit the Museum before then to bid on the art works.

Play On Words

Click Here to view my painting on the Museum's web site.

Click HERE to visit the portion of the Museum's web site with details about the event including how to purchase tickets.

Click HERE to visit my web site

Click HERE to contact me